The National tribune., 1887-06-02
THE PRESIDENT AT ST. LOUIS.

THE PRESIDENT AT ST. LOUIS.
ii develops that the local GAR Executive
Committee Of ST. Louis, without sufficiently
considering the matter, and without con-
sultation with National Headquarters or any
Posts outside the city, extended the invita-
ton to the President to visit ST. Louis dur
ing the Encampment. The following from
the ST. Louis Post Dispatch tells something
Of the present situation there:
The members Of the Grand Army Executive
Committee particularly pleased with the I'resi-
dents acceptance Of the invitation 10 lie present
during the Enoampment They appreciate the fact
that the Post Dispatch invitation was supplemented
10 the Grand Army invitation and that in accepting
the one he accepted the other. The committee viii
doubtless make arrangements at its next meeting
for n formal reception TO the President on behalf OF
tho Grand Army. The members Of the Grand Army
object strenuously TO the efforts Of the Hendricks
Club 20 constitute itself Reception Committee
They will certainly claim the right 10 make what
arrangements they please for the President reoep-
ton. They will probably appoint committee OF
citizens Of both parties 10 go down TO the depot mn
carriages and the St. Louis Light Cavalry 10 act as
mounted escort. II the Hendricks Club desires TO
serenade the President and call him at his hotel,
The Grand Army have right 10 obect TO that, but
the committee expects TO arrange the reception ct
the depot and 10 Lhat il is not political reoep-
ton.
Here is precisely the condition Of affairs
that every one might have anticipated: the
Presidents visit viii inevitably be converted
into political demonstration, thing that
is utterly abhorrent in a National Encamp-
ment.
We have not so far said much about the
pariizan aspects Of the Presidents visit, be-
cause the other reasons against it were
abundant and sufficient, and We make every
effort TO avoid anything that sayors Of poll
tics in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. But the
dangers from this source are apparent to
every one, and ii is fortunate that the Hen
bricks Club has been in such hot haste to
show its hand, for the most easy-gOing among
the comrades will now take alarm.
Talk as anyone pleases, Mr. Cleyeland's
visit 10 st. Louis viii take the form Of par
tizan demonstration, and no one can prevent
it. Does any one want the National En-
campment running in conjunction with
grand political mass meeting? With political
clubs and associations struggling with Posts
and Eneampments for accommodations at
the hotels; with be-ribboned and badged
political marshals Aourishing around among
the Department Commanders and the Ma
tional officers; with grand Cleveland pro-
cession disputing the right Of way with the
grand review Of the veterans. The idea is
uncomfortable
A way out Of the difficulty has been sug-
gested ST. Louis holds carnival some
10 days after the Encampment 1t is a
purely local affair, but very snowy and at
tractive, and draws great crowds every year
from the surrounding country. Mr. Cleve-
lands presence there would be very appro-
pirate, and the thousands from Missouri,
Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Southern
Illinois, who viii flock TO the city to see
him and do him honor, can demonstrate
as much as they please, without detriment
to the prophecies Of the occasion. We sim
cerely wish, for the good Of the Encamp-
ment, that this change viii be made.
The peculiar cast Of the political demon
stration is of less moment. We simply do
not want any political machines, Democratic,
Republican OF Greenbacker, running in con-
nection with or opOsition to the National
Encampment.